Southern California -- this just in

Swastika found carved into Calabasas High School student’s car

January 12, 2010 | 7:27
am

A swastika found carved into the hood of a Calabasas High School student's car is being investigated as a possible hate crime, L.A. County sheriff's officials said today.

A school security guard noticed the large swastika about 2:45 p.m. Monday, after it apparently had been etched into the hood of the 2009 BMW with a key, said Lt. Debra Glafkides of the Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills station. The car's side mirrors also were broken off.

Deputies interviewed the owner of the car, a 17-year-old Jewish student, who said he believed the vandalism was religiously motivated. The student told deputies that twice in the last month someone had used his or her finger to draw a swastika in the dust on his car.